Your government at work: Week two of the Florida legislative session

This week, the legislature sent its first bill to Gov. Rick Scott: a merit-pay plan that limits newly hired teachers to one-year contracts. #

The week was punctuated by more grim news about the state budget shortfall, which has risen from $3.6 billion to $3.75 billion. Lawmakers began toying with their budget plans, but one big-ticket proposal — the Senate’s plan for health and human services spending — is set to drop on Monday. #

Here’s our second weekly summary of what went down in the Capitol. Did we miss something? Send feedback to [email protected]. #

The first bill to pass both houses of the Florida legislature was Senate Bill 736, an overhaul of how the state pays and evaluates teachers. Opponents raised questions over how districts will pay for new tests that will be used to evaluate teachers under the plan, which Democratic Orlando Rep. Scott Randolph called “the mother of all unfunded mandates.” #

Even after the bill passed, lawmakers also had questions about how teacher pay will change. Pay increases for highly-rated teachers will likely have to wait until districts have more money available. The Orlando Sentinel has a guide to the bill and how it’s supposed to work. #

Meanwhile, the Senate discussed cuts to education funding smaller than those proposed by the House. #

The Senate also unveiled its immigration proposal, which is substantially different from the House’s version, though critics warn both bills could lead to increased racial profiling. The Senate measure focuses on promoting agreements between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials. #

Other provisions include an effort to bill the federal government for the costs of unauthorized immigration borne by the state, as well a requirement that all employers use E-Verify, which Judiciary Committee chair Anitere Flores moved to soften on Monday with the support of the business community. Later in the week, Senate President Mike Haridopolos said he wants the requirements back in the bill. #

High-speed rail is dead in Florida, for real this time. President Barack Obama is disappointed in Gov. Rick Scott’s decision (something Scott is probably proud of), but he’s not alone. Here’s what former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy told an applauding crowd of economic-development folks gathered in Central Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel: #

“Your high-speed rail was a no brainer … it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Murphy, who helped engineer Pittsburgh’s transformation from a rust-belt city to a biotech region. “It could have branded you as much as Disney has branded you. You could have said: ‘Look at us — we’re a 21st Century City.’ ” #

The rail connector would have helped attract Siemens expansions and China-based companies to locate in the area, he added. #

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood chided Scott for not thinking far enough into the future. #

More money could flow into Florida politics under bills proposed in this session. A House committee voted to revive a bill vetoed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist that would bring back Leadership Funds — cash conduits controlled by the party leadership in each house of the legislature, which was banned two decades ago. A separate bill aims to raise the limits on campaign contributions. #

The Census Bureau released data for Florida (which showed a substantial increase in the state’s minority populations), and the legislature released maps that hinted at where Florida’s two new congressional seats might be located. #

See also: This map of changes in the state’s population. Try zooming in. #

Gutting growth management: The House voted to revive a measure that would ease urban sprawl controls, while a separate panel advanced a measure that would scale back the state’s growth management regime: The chamber rolled out its first stab at plastic surgery on Florida’s once-heralded growth law Thursday, a proposal that repeals mandates for local governments to have new roads, schools, parks and recreation in place alongside new development — a requirement called “concurrency.” #

Plans to overhaul the state’s judicial system, backed by Speaker Dean Cannon, began advancing in the House. #

Howard Troxler: #

It is revolution. It is constitutional usurpation. It is practically a whole new form of government. #

But I’ll tell you what it ain’t. It ain’t “conservative.” #

The changes could also land Supreme Court justices in the infamous Taj Mahal courthouse intended for the First District Court of Appeals. #

+ Scott celebrated Open Government Week by launching a website that selectively releases public records, many of which seem to support his political objectives, such a list of the state’s big-ticket pensioners. #

+ A House panel approved a pension reform bill less drastic than Scott’s plan, but more severe than the Senate’s. #

+ Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, is moving ahead with his “Choose Life” license plate bill but plans on making new changes called for by fellow senators, which include placing tighter controls on how the group spends its money. #

+ Scott wants $800 million over two years for economic development incentives, which he could dish out at his discretion. The Senate doesn’t seem too keen on the idea. #

+ Tuition hikes may be coming for state universities. #

+ Senate President Haridopolos reiterated his intention to keep supporting a drug database the House is working to eliminate. Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, is advancing a separate piece of legislation aimed at “pill mills.” #

+ Lawmakers are working to override local ordinances intended to curb fertilizer runoff. #

+ A proposed constitutional amendment that would place a binding cap on state revenue cleared the Senate. #

+ Haridopolos wants Florida’s presidential primary to be No. 5 — after South Carolina, Nevada, Iowa, and New Hampshire. #

+ Word has it that Scott may be planning to dodge a lawsuit by submitting the Fair Districts amendment for approval. #

+ “Business-friendly tort reform” is popular in the Senate. #

+ Where did that crazy-sounding ban on farm photography come from? #